The convicted drug dealer fled Ireland earlier this month after being shot by two gunmen at his brother's home in Clondalkin.

Gilligan is understood to have been taken to a private hospital in the north of England, where he continues his convalescence.

Writing on a Facebook page called’ Let’s Talk About John Gilligan’, sisters Lorraine Dunne and Mags Byrne have defended their brother.

In a bizarre rant, Dunne wrote “He challenged the state. Abandoned yet again. John is human. Fighting for his rights.

“17 years is a long time in prison and yet while John spent all them years in prison was this a better place?”

Pictured with Gilligan on her Facebook page, Lorraine Dunne also wrote that the media should “ leave him be and you would think there is only man on this earth.”

Lorraine Dunne was responding to a post by ‘Sam Hall’ who set up the page.

Gilligan’s other sister, Mags Byrne, also responded to the website and said” “It’s like he is doing his time all over again.”

She also wrote: “I wish my brother well. He’s a good man.”

Gilligan fled the the country within hours of the gangland murder of his associate and minder, Stephen 'Dougie' Moran, who was gunned down on 15 March

The wounded gangster used a false name when he fled the country last week.

The convicted drug trafficker went to England on the ferry and is believed to have made his way to the north of England, using a fake name made him less traceable to authorities, as well as the would-be assassins who have stalked him and have twice tried to kill him since December.

Gilligan was given the last rites after being shot at his brother’s house on March 1.

He was hit in the stomach, hip and leg and a bullet grazed his head.

It was the second attempt on his life in two months. On December 14 last Gilligan narrowly avoided death when assassins went to the wrong north Dublin pub.